OK SO.... apparently I didn't have any fuel in the system to begin with because I just put some in and it runs (awfully). HOWEVER, I was having legitimate ecu problems and I specifically remember having fuel in it when I tested the 1st ecu (swapped ECUs to confirm this and the 1st ecu still didn't work on the car nor did it fire the injectors when the coil was grounded). The problem was that I completely forgotten that I had drained the gas tank to rearrange fuel lines somewhere in between ordering the second ECU. So I actually did have a bad ecu at first but now its running with the new ECU and with some gas in it (who would've thought....). Even though its running it only starts with much cranking and wont stay running for long (i also hear squeaking noise, could this be a vacuum leak?) and also there is white-ish smoke coming from the tailpipe.
Anyways thanks for the help, probably wouldn't have remembered about the gas if you hadn't told me to check the fuel inlet.
I'm gonna continue looking through these forums for help on these new problems since you guys have an invaluable amount of Z knowledge!

You are completely right, I have no idea how I was led to believe it was a bad ECU. I just checked using a noid light and when I try to fire her up the light pulses. So at this point I am thinking it is still fuel related but nothing EFI related, which I am glad to finally hear.

Thanks Zed Head, I ordered a fuel pressure gauge and I will update you with my readings. Also the the fuel rail is connected correctly to the inlet and outlet fuel lines. Until I get the fuel pressure gauge I will continue testing some more and will update if I find anything new. I hope this car starts running soon, I feel like the problem is something very small and easy because I have replaced most of the EFI and fuel related components at this point.

Hello all, a couple months ago I purchased a 1978 280z that had been sitting since 2001. I started by cleaning and coating the inside of the tank, installed a new fuel pump, installed an extra fuel filter near the tank, and replaced the fuel filter in the engine bay. I also have a new fuel relay, efi wiring harness, ecu, and a new 3 terminal dropping resistor (the 5 terminal and new 3 terminal resistors tested good with a multi meter). I also replaced the spark plugs, spark plug wires, and the pickup wire from the coil to the ditributor.
When I try to start the car with starting fluid it will run but only when there is starting fluid present. I'm sure this means that I have good spark. So my problem is fuel.
When I did the FSM tests with a multimeter at the harness connector every cylinder checked out good. Each cylinder read the battery voltage meaning the dropping resistors and injectors have continuity from the battery and are good. I can also hear the fuel injectors click when I ground them through the negative wire on the coil. I can also hear the relays give a solid click when I turn the key to start. The power line from the battery to the ecu and the revolution trigger signal all read battery voltage as well and all my grounds also tested good. I know I am getting fresh fuel to the fuel rail because when I pulled on the inlet fuel rail line there was a bunch of fuel that squirted out. At first given all the successful tests, I thought I had a bad ecu, however I just tried starting the car with a new working ecu for the second time and it still wont run.
I went and read many posts on so many forums and scoured the internet to find a solution to my problem before wasting someones time and posting about it. However, I am stuck here and dont know what to do anymore. Even though I prefer EFI, I'm thinking of just switching to carbs because no matter what I do the damn thing seems to never want to run.
I did all my tests and checks but to no avail.
And yes the tach is plugged in.
Any help? I'm desperate to see this thing running.

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